Apparatus for generating acetylene gas.



PATENTED PEB. 3',y 1903.

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J. J. HENDLER.

APPLIUATIOH FILED IAB.. 11, 1901.

THE Nonms PETERS co., PNoro-Ln'no. wAsNlNnTon. n. c.

NTTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN J. HENDLER, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ACETYLENE GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,665, dated February 3, 1903.

Application filed March ll. 1901.

T0 @ZZ when?. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. HENDLER, of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Burning Acetylene and other Gases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for generating acetylene and other gases; and my invention consists in certain features of novelty hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure l represents a vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of a portion of the generating-chamber, showing the lower part of the overflow-pipe.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in both views.

1 represents a generating-chamber. 2 represents a water-reservoir surrounding the upper part of said generating-chamber. 3 represents a tube communicating with said water-reservoir at its bottom or lowest point and With said generating-chamber near the bottom thereof. 4 represents a pipe of larger area in cross-section than the tube VV3, com-A municating with said generating chamber near the bottom and extending into said water-reservoir nearly to the top thereof. Said pipe is preferably iiattened throughout, or more particularly at its lower end, providing a narrow elongated mouth, so that the, opening in the generating-chamber to receive said pipe may be confined as closely to the bottom thereof, it being desirable that, lthe outlet to pipe 4 should be wholly below the outlet to the tube 3. Within said generating-chamber is a cell 5 for containing the calcium carbid or like material from which the gas is to be generated. Said cell is mounted upon legs 6 above the bottom of the generatingchamber and has its bottom arranged at an inclination to the bottom of said chamber, as shown, and provided with openings 5 at or near its bottom. lVithin said cell are provided wick-tubes 7, communicating with the openings 5 and provided with perforations 8, and within said tubes is provided a paolo.

. ating-chamber.

Serial No. 50,565. (No model.)

ing 9 of wicking orlike material, such as will carry the water up said tubes and permit it to percolate through the perforations 8 into said cell. The generating-chamber is closed by a cap 10, a gasket 11 being interposed to insure against leakage. Upon said cap is mounted a valve 12, with which may be connected a burner .13, providing a convenient lamp, or a hose or tubing may be connected therewith and the gas conveyed to any de sired point.

To fill the water-reservoir, an opening 14is provided, arranged to be closed by a cap 15, having a vent-hole 16. The water-reservoir being supplied with water the water will thence pass throu gh the tube 3 into the gener- When the water rises in said chamber to the level of the carbid-cell,a portion thereof will be carried by the wicking up the tubes 7 and will pass through the perforations 8 into said cell, and coming in contact with the material therein-the decomposition will begin, accompanied by the generation of gas. The bottom of said cell being inclined, but a small portion of the body of the carbid will be at first exposed to the action of the water, and hence the generation of the gas at the beginnin g of the operation will be more gradual, and also by reason of the packing in the tubes 7 the passage of the Water into the cell will be restrained, and as by the capillary action of the packing the water is carried up said tubes it is supplied more slowly and over a larger surface of a carbid than if admitted at once to the cell without the interposition of vsaid packing. As the gas is generated and the pressure increases the Water will be forced out of the generating-chamber through the tube 3 and pipe 4 of comparatively large area. The return flow of Water will be mainly through pipe 4, the water overdowing from said pipe into the reservoir. Then if the valve 12 be opened and the gas permitted to iow from the generating-chamber as the pressure in said chamber decreases the Water from the reservoir will return to said chamber slowly through said tube 3, the size of said tube being such that the pressure of the water in the reservoir will not materially aect the pressure of the gas in said chamber, but will fiow back through said tube at substantially the IOC same rate that the gas escapes under `the gaspressure in said chamber until the water rises to such height as to be again carried by the wicking into the carbid-cell.

It will be observed that when the pressure of the gas generated expels the water from the generating-chamber, as above noted, the packing in the tubes remaining saturated with water, the moisture therefrom will continue to permeate the carbid in the cell, so that the generation of gas will at no time wholly cease during the interval between the expulsion and return of the water, and by reason of such moisture the residuum of the carbid already decomposed will not be dried by the heat generated by the decomposition and form a crust, preventing the action of the water as it returns to come in contact therewith, and excessive heating will be in great measure, if not wholly, prevented. Thus a more economical and uniform generation of the gas, a more uniform pressure of the gas, and a more steady and uniform ameat the burner is maintained than when the water is permitted to come directly into contact with the carbid as it ows into the generating-chamber. For convenience in handling the carbid maybe placed in the cell in a sack, as shown in dotted lines, the material of the sack acting also in some degree to remove the impurities from the gas.

If desired, the tube 3 may be omitted and a small opening 17 provided in the pipe 4, near the bottom of the reservoir, for the return flow of the Water. If an excessive gaspressure should at any time be generated in the generating-chamber, the gas will pass off through the tube 3 and escape through the vent-hole 16 in cap 15. That such escape of gas may be through tube 3, the inlet of said tube to the generating-chamber is placed further from the bottom of said chamber than the inlet of the pipe 4E. If desired, a nozzle 18 may be provided communicating with the vent-hole 1G, to which may be connected a tube or hose for conveying away the escaping gas.

Among the advantages presented by this apparatus may be mentioned, first, it is not aected in its operation by any jolting or jarring or rolling short of complete overturning, for the reason that by such action an excessive amount of water will not be thrown upon the carbid to produce excessive and dangerous generation; second, with this apparatus the lamp-carbid as it comes from the factory may be used with as good effect as the granulated or other broken form, thus saving the large per cent. of waste of gas incident to such preparation for use.

Having thus fully described my improvements, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters atent, is-

1. In the apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generating-chamber provided with a controlled outlet, a carbid-cell arranged in said chamber having its lower end supported above the iioor of the generating-chamber, one or more inlet-openings in the bottom of said cell, wicking extending from the inlet-level of the said cell upwardly within the latter, a reservoir supported at a level above the lower inlet end of the cell, a pipe of restricted size affording communication between the bottom of the generator and the bottom of the reservoir, and a second pipe of larger size forming a free communication between the lower end of the generatingchamber and the upper part of the reservoir at a point above the normal liquid -level therein.

2. In the apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generating-chamber provided with a controlled outlet, a carbid-cell arranged in said chamber having its lower end supported above the floor of the generating-chamber, one or more inlet-openings in the bottom of said cell, wicking extending from the inlet-level of the said cell upwardly within the latter, a reservoir supported at a level above the lower inlet end of the cell, a pipe of restricted size affording communication between the bottom of the generator and the bottom of the reservoir, a second pipe of larger size forming a free communication between the lower end of the generating-chamber and the upper part of the reservoir at a point above the normal liquid-level therein, and a Vent-aperture in the upper part of the reservoir.

3. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a generating-chamber, having a valved outlet, a carbid-cell arranged in said chamber, perforated tubes in said cell provided with a packing adapted to carry the water through said tubes, a water-reservoir, mounted upon said chamber, a tube communicating with said chamber near the bottom thereof and with said water-reservoir toward the top thereof, of such size as to permit the water to flow freely from said chamber under pressure of the gas, and a tube communicating with said chamber near the bottom and with said water-reservoir at or near its bottom, and of such size as to form a restricted return-passage for the water to said chamber as the gas-pressure is relieved, substantially as set forth.

JOHN J. HENDLER.

Witnesses:

l O. A. LUCAS,

- A. JOHNSTON.

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